Plans include weakening sides that are too dominant in a match and also ruling that there can be no overall victor

Esher RFC may withdraw from Surrey mini-rugby tournaments in protest at new regulations ensuring teams no longer play to win.

The new rules of play are aimed at the six to 11-years-old age groups and would mean that sides will be weakened if they are too dominant in a match, and also that there can be no overall victor.

This have caused a storm around the county with giants Esher – in National League One – among those most alarmed.

A meeting of the executive committee at Molesey Road earlier this week thundered: “The club remain resolutely opposed to what we believe to be a flawed concept that is fundamentally at odds with the principles of the game.

“Esher consider player safety to be of paramount importance at all levels and will seek to have further dialogue with Surrey Rugby and other stakeholders in a bid to reach an amicable solution.”

Chief executive Mike Schmid took a more conciliatory tone when he spoke to the Surrey Advertiser, saying: “If you read the Surrey RFU’s research, there are some valid arguments about including as many players as possible.

“But we have concerns that we have spoken to Surrey about and there are a number of different scenarios at the moment which are possible.

“We haven’t withdrawn our co-operation with them at this stage.”

And he added: “Whenever you play a team in any sport, there are winners and losers.

“You don’t necessarily have to hand out cups and there may be some tournament issues that need addressing.”

Competitive rugby

Schmid has a foot in both camps given his son plays rugby too, saying: “My nine-year-old is here at Esher and the coaches there do a fantastic job.

“The important thing is that any youngster ends up a better player in April than he was in September.”

Opponents of the changes - which have already been inaugurated in some other fields amid much controversy - argue that sport is naturally competitive and attempting to take that out of games is both harmful to the education of those playing it and the prospects of the young champions of the future being unearthed.

Those in favour believe that players of lesser ability or physique are too easily put off by losing.

Surrey’s chairman of mini festivals, Steve Tomlinson, was unavailable for comment but the RFU’s development director Steve Grainger said: “This is not about denying children competitive rugby.

“We are working to ensure that more children of all abilities play and enjoy competitive rugby – rugby is a competitive team sport and always will be.

“The RFU’s aim is to engage more children in competitive rugby by giving them a better experience which means they want to keep playing and improving.

“It is important that we do what is right for these young players as they are the future.”

Touchline difficulties

Steve Weston, chairman of Cranleigh’s minis and junior section, believes one of the biggest problems facing the proposals is practicality.

He explained: “Coaches stream players as part of the process but for smaller clubs like ourselves that becomes more difficult.

“What you are asking though is for those running the teams – who are often parents – to make a decision at maybe 11 or 12-0 up to take a player off.

“It’s quite difficult to decide to take your son off or someone else’s and I can see difficulties on the touchline as much as anything else.”

He added: “There is already a certain amount of streaming – Steve Tomlinson allowed our 'A' team to play in lower festivals because against the likes of Esher and Rosslyn Park you can get found out.

"But I have a nine-year-old and a five-year-old who play the game and at the end of a match they want to know the score.

“Winning and losing is a major part of the game. It’s caused a lot of talk.

“When the proposals were first aired there were only 16 clubs at the meeting called by Surrey – had people been aware that the proposals were as radical as they are, then they would have made more of an effort to get there.”

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.